Humble.

When it describes a building or a job, it means small, menial, inferior.

When it describes a person, it means not full of yourself.

In the first case, it approaches insult. In the latter, compliment.

We don’t want to live in humble abodes or do menial work, but we would love to be known as humble. In fact, we would be quite proud to be known as humble.

Mary recites a poem she wrote which says that God noticed her humble (menial) state. She says that God knocks down the proud and raises up the humble (un-self-filled).

There are people in menial jobs who are quite proud (in the bad sense). There are people in fabulous positions who are quite humble.

And then there are Marys. People who are in humble circumstances who are quite humble, contented with who they are, fully aware and confident that God speaks to them and understands them.

After all, who is poorer than a poor, humble, homeless, fugitive, socially-reviled woman?

Her son.

(From Luke 1:46-55)